Feeler mechanism for looms



Dec. 28, 1926. 1,612,573

E. A. CUNNIFF 4 FEEDER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS I Filed 'June 19. 1926 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v ATTORNEY Dec. 28, 1926.

E. A. CUNNIFF MFEELER MECHANISM FOR Looms Filed June 19. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M/I/EN 7'0 R (2%; z. W

-ATTORNEY Dec. 28, 1926.

E. A. CUNNIFF FEELER MECHANISM FOR Looms Filed June 19. 1926 3' Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR'.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1925.

UlE STAT-ES PATENT'OFFICE.

ED'WARD A. CUNNIFF, OE VIALTHAIVI, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR *IG DRAPEE COR- PORATION, OF HOPEDALE, IVIASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISLI FGR LOOIIIS;

Application filed June 19, 1926.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms, whereby on substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle, the operatlv-e condition of the loom is changed.

In looms of the filling replenishing type, it is now the common practice to provide afeeler mechanism which shall feel for the filling in the shuttle at times and upon detection of substantial exhaustion of filling, set in operation a train of mechanism for effecting replenishment of the filling prior to complete exhaustion.

Feeler mechanisms of whatever type should act reliably to call for a change of filling only when the filling in the shuttle has reached a degree of substantial exhaustion and since the amount of filling that re mains upon the filling carrier or bobbin after replenislnnent constitutes waste and consequent loss, attempts have been made to render the feeler mechanism delicate both to the presence and substantial absence of filling on the bobbin.

One of the ob'ects of the present invention is to provide a feeler mechanism that shall possess such delicacy of filling detection that the minimum amount of waste may remain upon the filling carrieror bobbin when it is ejected from the shuttle on filling replenishment.

Another ob ect of the present invention is to provide a feeler mechanism of the side slipping type wherein the delicacy of feelcr action may besuch that side slipping movement of the feeler may take place only when a minimum amount of filling remains upon the filling carrier or bobbin. 7

Another important feature of the present invention consists in a floating side slipping feeler mounted upon a fecler stand for movement towards and from the front of the loom relatively thereto and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. and to associate the feeler and feeler stand and their re- ..oectivo niounti in amanner that will causethe feeler stand itself to be moved frontwardly only when the fceler partakes of its side slipping movement on a detecting beat.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the feeler stand is mounted for movement towards and from the front of the loom and is normally held in its rearward position for the support of the side slipping feeler in its movements towards and Serial No. 117,163.

from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, and is caused to be moved frontwardly by the frontward move mentof the feeler only when the feeler itself has detected substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle. also, the present invention associates with the feeler stand means for changing the loom operation or filling replenishment whenever the feeler stand is itself moved frontwardly by the feeler.

The invention and new combination of parts and novel features thereof will best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings of one good practical form thereof. L

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of parts at the feeler side of a loom provided with the present invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing parts of the fceler mechanism separated but readv for assembly; I

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the relation of parts of the feeler mechanism when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3, showing the relation of parts when the feelerdetects substantial exhaustion of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

The details of the means for changing the operative condition of the loom, such, for instance, as replenishment of filling, are not herein shown and described, because such details form no essential part of the present invention and are now well understood by those familiar with this character of mechanism.

The loom frame 1 may be of usual construction and provided with the shipper stand 2 in which is movable the shipper 3. and extending up from toe usual transverse or rock shaft at the front of the loom (and not herein shown) is an arm a to which is pivotally connected at 5 the actuator 8, the rear end portion 7 of'which is adaptedto be engaged at times by an operating member 8- herein shown as movable with the cam fol lower.

Pivotally mounted on the loom frame or a bracket 9 secured to the shipper stand is the transmitter 10 adapted to rock on the pivotal support 11 and having an actuator positioning pin 12. Extending laterally In this connection,

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from the pivotal support 11 in a direction opposite the arm 10 is the arm 13 to which is adjustably secured the bracket 1% by means of a bolt 15, and said bracket 14 is provided with an opening 16, the lower arm 17 of which has a cam surface 18.

Extending through the opening 16 is the supporting arm 19 pivotally mounted on the vertical stud 20 which may be conveniently supported on the shipper stand. Coiled about the stud 20 is a spring 21, one end of which is secured to a fixed part at and the other end of which at 23 acts upon the supporting arm 19 and normally maintains the said arm in its rearward position. The parts so far described may be oi usual construction and are now well understood in the art.

The outer end portion of the supporting arm 19 is provided with a plate 24: to which is adjust-ably secured the i eeler stand 25. In the present instance of the invention the plate 2% is provided with slots 26 through which may be passed the securing bolts 2. for holding the tceler stand 25 in desired position upon the supporting plate.

The feeler stand 25 is constructed for the direct support of the floating and non-pivotally mounted feeler 28, so that the feeler may have movement upon the feeler stand in a direction towards and tron'i the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, as will more fully appear.

In the present instance of the invention, the feeler stand 25 has the side guide portions 29 which act upon portions of the feeler 28 to direct its movements towards and from the front of the loom, and yet permit longitudinal movement of the feeler with re lation to the shuttle.

The iteeler 28, as hereinbetore noted, is of the floating non-pivotal side-slipping type and is provided with a laterally projecting arm 30 which extencs beneath or into the guiding portion of one of the guides 29, while the opposite side of the teelcr is provided with a toe portion 31 which is similarly received in the guide 29, the construction being such that when the teeler is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling on a detecting beat, it may be held in its floating non-pivotal relation to the feeler stand by the interengagement of the guides 29 and the projection and toe 30 and 31 respectively. It has been found practical to form the teeler stand 25 as a plate having the holes 32 through which, and the slots 26 ot the plate 24, the securing bolts 27 may be passed to receive the nuts 33 beneath the plate 24. This construction and formation of the feeler stand and supporting plate and the means for holding them in operative relation may of course be varied within the true scope of the present invention.

The teeler 28 is normally under the infiuence of a. spring 34, one end of which is directly connected to the teeler at 35, and the other end of which is connected to a lug 36 at the rear portion oi the feeler stand. the construction being such that the normal tendency of the spring 34 is to move the teeler rearwardly relative to the tecler stand into its feelin position.

Mounted upon the lfeeler stand is a stop or projection 37 which engages the laterally extending arm 30 at a point adjacent connection with the feeler 23, so that the stop 3? acts to limit the rearward movement of the :lceler under the'intluence of the light spring which, as shown in the present instance of the invention, acts diagonally with a pulling eli'ect upon the teeler to move it into its rearward feeling position. Extending upwardly from the teeler stand is a second stop 38 which acts upon the feeler 28 to limit its swinging movement into its true feeling position under the action of the spring From the construction thus far described, it will be apparent that the teeler 28 floats upon and is directly supported by the teeler stand for free movement except as controlled by the light spring 34, in a direction towards and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, and that the stop 37 which acts upon the projecting arm 30 adjacent its connection with the teeler, serves to determine the rear ward position of the feeler, while the stop 38 serves to position the swinging movement ot the teeler into its proper feeling position under the action of the spring 3%. it is de sirable in most cases to position the two stops 37 and 33 as shown, and preferably to locate the stop 33 adjacent the point where the end of the spring 34 is connected directly to the teeler, but this may not always be necessary.

The teeler 28, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in its rearward feeling position, is provided with a lug or linger 39 which on frontward and rearward movement of the feeler travels in an opening it; termed in the guide 2?), and extending from the plate 24 or feelerstand support is a lug 41 which may be secured either to the alate as shown or some other part of the arm 19, the essentials in this respect being that when the teeler moved trontwardly on a detecting beat with a working supply of filling in the shuttle and the teeler consequently does not partake of its side swipe movement, the lug or linger 39 will not engage the lug i1, with the result that the teeler will be moved frontwardly on the feeler stand, while the feeler stand itself will remain in its rearward position under the impulse of the spring 21.

'This condition is illustrated in Fig. 3 where usual teeth 4-2, has been moved frontwardly (iii the feeler 28 will side slip, thereby opera tively positioning the lug or finger 39 on the feeler with the lug or projection 41 on the feeler stand support, with the result that the feeler stand support itself will now be moved frontwardly, thereby carrying the arm 19 frontwardly over the cam portion 18 of the transmitter and perforce moving the end 7 of the actuator 6 into operative relation with the operating member 8 to thereby effect replenishment of filling.

As usual in feeler looms of the type herein shown, the lay is provided with the shuttle box 45, Fig. 1, the front wall of which is provided with an opening 46 which registers with an opening 4-7 in the front wall of the shuttle 4-8 when the latter is properly boxed, the condition being such that the feeler may enter the shuttle and feel for the filling.

During weaving when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on detect ing beats, the feeler will be moved frontwardly 011 and relative to the feeler stand and the lug or linger 39 on the feeler will not engage the projection or lug ll on the feeler stand support, and consequently the feeler stand will remain in its rearward position under the influence of the spring 21. When, however, the filling has become substantially exhausted, indicated in Fig. l, the feeler will side slip on contact with the filling carrier or bobbin and cause the finger or lug 39 to become operatively positioned with respect to the lug ll on the feeler stand support, and on frontward movement of the feeler thereafter the feeler stand itself will be moved frontwardly and through its connections with the transmitting mechanism, as hereinbefore described, will effect replenishment of filling. Owing to the floating character of the feeler which is directly mounted for movement on the feeler stand, the sensitiveness of the feeler action is emphasized, so that the feeler will partake of its side slipping character on the filling carrier or bobbin only when a minimum amount of waste remains upon the filling carrier or bobbin, and under such conditions the feeler will be positioned to cause frontward movement of the feeler stand, which consequently takes place only when the feeler detects substantial exhaustion of filling in the shuttle and thereby effects replenishment of filling.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the. combination of a feeler stand, a floating side slipping feeler mounted directly on the stand for movement relative thereto towards and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and held from side slipping movement on detecting beats by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, means for supporting the feeler stand in a normal rearward position during weaving with a working supply of filling in the shuttle, and means for causing the feeler to move the feeler stand frontwardly only when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a floating nonpivoted feeler mounted on the feeler stand for movement towards and from the front of the loom anu in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such latter movement when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on detecting beats,

a projection extending laterally from the.

floating feeler, a stop on the feeler stand to engage the projection adjacent its connection with the feeler to limit the rearward movement of the feeler, a pull spring having one end secured to the rear portion of the feeler stand and its front end secured directly to the feeler near the connection between the feeler and the laterally extending projection to move the feeler rearwardly on the feeler stand, and a stop on the feeler stand to limit the swinging movement of the feeler under the influence of the pull sprin 3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand mounted for movement towards and from the front of the loom and normally held in rearward position during weaving so long as a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on detecting beats, a feeler mounted on the feeler stand for movement thereon towards and from the front of the loom on detecting beats during weaving with a working supply of filling in the shuttle, a spring normally acting to move the feeler rearwardly on the feeler stand, and means for causing the feeler to move the feeler stand frontwardly only when the filling is substantiall exhausted on a detecting beat.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, means acting to hold the feeler stand in rearward position when a working supply of filling is in the shuttle during weaving, a feeler mounted on the feeler stand for movement thereon towards and from the front of the loom when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on ClGtQCt-iflg beats and for side slipping movement when the filling is sub stantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and means for enga ing the feeler and ieeler stand to ellect trontward movement of the :leeler stand when the leelcr side slips on a detecting heat.

5. In a teeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, means acting to hold the teeler stand in rearward position during weaving so long as a working sup ply of filling in the shuttle, a feeler mounted on the teeler stand for movement thereon towards and from the front of the loom when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on detecting beats and for side slipping movement when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, means "for engaging the feeler and l eeler stand to etiect trout-ward movement er the ieeler stand only when the teelcr side slips on a detecting beat, and means for changing the loom operation whenever the feeler stand is moved trontwardly.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a teeler stand, a floating side slipping tt'eeler mounted directly on the tooler stand for movement relatively thereto to vards and from the front of the loom when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on detecting beats and for side slipping movement relative to the teeler stand when the filling is substantially exhausted on' at detecting beat, members on the feeler and feeler stand which are brought into cooperative relation by side sligping movement of the feeler on the feeler stand to eilect trontward movement of the feeler stand with the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a l eeler stand, a floating side slipping ieeler mounted directly on the feeler stand for movement relatively thereto towards and from the front of the loom when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on detecting beats and for side slipping movement relative to the feel-V or stand when the filling is substant'ally exhausted on at detecting beat, a pull spring normally acting rearwardly on the teelcr, members on the i eeler and feeler stand which are brought into cooperative relation by side slipping movement of the color on the 'l'celcr stand to etl'ect frontward movement of the iteeler stand with the 'leeler whenthe filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a teeler stand normally held in rearward position during weaving so long as a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, means connected with the i eeler stand to etlect replenishment of filling whenever the teeler stand is moved i'rontwardly, a feeler mounted on the feeler stand for movement relative thereto by a working supply or filling on detecting beats and for side slipping movement when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and means operatively positioned by side slipping movement of the teeler to etl'ect trontward movement oi? the iteeler stand by the feeler as it is moved irontwardly ate-r a side slipping movement.

5). ln leeler mecaanism for looms, the combination of a teeler stand, a floating n0niivotally mounted side slipping i eeler mounted directly upon the feeler stand for movement thereon towards and from the front oi? the loom and in a direction longitudinally ot the shuttle, a projecting arm extended laterally from the floating teeler, a stop or pin adapted to engage the arm adjacent its connection with the feeler to limit the rearward movement of the feeler, a pull spring secured at one end directly to the 't'eeler at point rearward of said projecting arm and acting to move the teeler rearwn'dly to feeling position on the l eeler stand, and a stop to limit the swinging movement of the :leeler to feeling position under the influence of said sprin 10. In a teeler mechanism for looms, the con'ibii'iation of a :l eeler stand, a floating side slipping feeler mounted on the feeler stand for movements relative thereto in directions towards and from the front of the loom and longitudinally of the shuttle, a support for the 'fceler stand, yielding means acting through the support and normally holding the l e ler stand in rearward position during weaving so long as a working supply or filling is in the shuttle, inter-engaging proiections on the teeler and feeler support which are normally in inoperative relation during weaving when a working supply of filling is in the shnttle and which are operat-ively related by side slipping inoven'ient of the ieeler to eiiect frontward movement of the teeler stand, anti means actuated to eliect replenishment of filling whenever the teeler stand is moved frontwardly by the feeler.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDi VARD A. CUNNIFF. 

